Lyme Disease Support Group

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. It is now one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in the U.S. Lyme disease is caused by infection with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, and is primarily transmitted to humans as well as dogs, horses and other domesticated animals by the bite of infected ticks.

Success Stories?

All I have been seeing on here are negative stories. Which is cool because people are seeking help. But I really want to know if there is anybody out there who had chronic lyme disease and was experiencing psychological/physiological symptoms, but is now recovering succesfully due to treatment by an LLMD?

I would like to hear your story to give all others who are struggling some hope.

I could be wrong but, I think the main reason is because once people are feeling better they are out living their lives and possibly not dwelling on how they used to feel. I know when I am having good days I am busy catching up on things I did not get done when I am stuck on the couch in pain.
I pray I will someday feel the way I used to before that stupid tick came into my life. I really do have more good days than bad lately if that helps at all. I have had lots of meds. you can check my profile.

I can tell you that 4 years ago I was unable to get of the couch due to lack of energy, pain migrating through my body, numbness, could not eat (gagged on everything) and was having panic attacks that lasted from 30 minutes to a all day. I thought I was losing my mind and my life. I was like this for months. Pneumonia set in (and I think this is what saved me) and I was given Abx, for months as I could not get rid of the infection. My MD kept at it with different Abx, until I was showing bits of improvement.

She did not know, now was I tested with Lyme for another 3 years. Wit a combination of meds - I was able to 'function' and return to work. Never felt right in my head though.

Stressful situation was my downfall,(I am a crisis counsellor for the homeless and street-entrenched) and I crashed again about 2 years later. Was once again a bed ridden zombie.

Now for the GOOD news! Located an LLMD and began treatment for Babesia, Bartonella and Lyme about 10 months ago. It has not been an easy road, but the improvements are dramatic. I am off all the meds written for usual depression, ulcer, biliary cholic, etc...and am know addressing the Bartonella. The Bab's was the first treated, and I could function at about 50% after that. I am now at about 75% on most days - although the anxiety is still a challenge for me. My treatment is still early in for Bart though. It is getting better.

I find I have 'crashes' or hard days when I push myself to do a lot - still struggling with that line in the sand. I have been off work now for over a year, and will probably be off at least another one.

If you look into the journals here, posted by the other members, you will also be able to read about successes. That is where I go for reinforcement on my not so good days.

The road back to wellness starts with a GOOD, knowledgeable LLMD and a diagnosis!

My friend Mandy is in the beginning of &quot;Under our Skin&quot; documentory and in film you can see her severity and now she is doing great. Not perfect but much much much better. She had Lyme and some co-infections.
My neighbors sister was in treatment 20 years ago. She was in treated for more than 2 years on IV meds and in the past 15 years has had only 2 minor flare ups. She used to get lost driving home from work (she'd call her Mom for turn by turn instructions on roads that she had been on her whole life) and her hands were so painful and swollen that she could not load/unload the xrays from the machine at work.
I started treatment last May 2006 and am much better than I was then. My energy is much better, I can find words more easily in conversations, I do not have to concentrate to do basic tasks or have basic conversation. My eyes are no longer dry all the time, I remember better, I am not constatly sore in all of my muscles, I have no more muscle spasms. I still get fatigued more easily and am recently having trouble sleeping well at night (both falling asleep and staying asleep) and I still get a funcky rash from time to time. My &quot;bad days&quot; now are not near as bad as what I considered to be my &quot;good days&quot; last summer.

Yes, they come and go with less frquency during treatment. The thing to remember is that treatment takes awile. It takes awile to get that sick and it will take awhile to get better. Try to take it one day at a time. Two good days a week are better than zero. I can tell you I have had years of having zero. Good luck and God Bless,
slrow

Here is a success story from a woman on another support group I belong to. She gave me permission to post it here.

MMS saved my life. I've had LD for over 20 years but have always been asymptomatic. Lyme symptoms hit me really hard after some big stresses in my life and I basically couldn't get out of bed from inflammation in my head and spine and joints with extreme fatigue. I looked like a cancer patient and not like myself at all. The mirror was my enemy. Salt/C and rife (my main ammunition at the time) didn't touch the state I was in. This was 6 months ago. Then I heard about MMS. I took one drop and was so nauseous and tired I thought it was poisonous - but it's really not, it's just the lyme dying at a fast rate producing horrible neurotoxins. It took me a few months to get up to 10 drops and every time I took it I would get nauseous, extremely tired and lots of diarrhea - but my head and spine were becoming less inflamed with time. I started to feel and look somewhat normal again. After about 4 months of this I felt like I couldn't go on so I took a big rest from it. During my rest from MMS I felt really good but after a few weeks the inflammation in my head started to creep back slowly. I went back on MMS and realized that now I could take it and it cured the inflammation but I wasn't feeling so ill anymore, fatigue stopped being a problem and diarrhea is gone. I think it cleared a ton of junk from my body in a very short period of time. I still take MMS because the war is going to be a long one as I have had the lyme in my body for so damn long. Here's the important part of this story. I NOW FEEL BETTER AND LOOK YOUNGER THAN I HAVE IN 20 YEARS. I'M 45 YEARS OLD AND I'M TRAINING FOR A TRIATHLON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE. LYME IS STILL IN MY BODY MAKING ME STIFF AND CRACK A BIT, BUT I AM SO HAPPY THAT I STUCK IT OUT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE A NEW PERSON.

HERE'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING THAT I TOOK. I ORDERED BORRELLIA BORGDORFI 200C HOMEOPATHIC FROM HELIOS IN THE UK. I PUT A FEW (3) PELLETS IN A BOTTLE OF PURIFIED WATER (NVER TOUCH THE PELLETS WITH YOUR HANDS) AND HIT THE BOTTLE 10 TIMES BEFORE TAKING A TEASPOON DAILY. (I KEEP THE BOTTLE IN THE FRIDGE MARKED SO THAT NO ONE THINKS IT'S REGULAR WATER). THIS HOMEOPATHIC HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY ALONG WITH THE MMS).

I drink MMS in organic concord grape juice from Trader Joes or in organic prune juice (neither have vit c in them). I squeeze a lemon or a lime and dropper in the amount I need to activate the MMS. My maintenance dose is 12 drops of MMS before bed (brush my teeth immediately after).

I do not and hopefully never will take antibiotics. I use homeopathy for all of my medical needs.

I was in treatment from 2002- 2004, and took a year long break due to stomach issues. I went back full force in late 2005 to 2006 then took ANOTHER year long break. this time, I was medically diagnosed with intestinal permeability ( otherwise known as leaky gut syndrome, except I had it so bad, I was diagnosed by actual tests). I started back in 2007, and have been doing great since. I am still on abx, but only when I flare.

It was NOT until 2008 that erlichia was found. This was something I was always tested for, but never showed. It was also a coinfection that was not addressed except for a 3 month stint of doxy and rifampin for bart ( that also treats erlichia). I was mainly a penicillin+bicillin+ augmentin remission. So, I am now back on meds for doxy. I show no evidence of lyme anymore. ( not one band) and even igenex came back negative. But boy.....

erlichia is positive, even the one from quest.

Make sure to treat ALL coinfections. I wouldn't still be here had I stayed on SOMETHING that would have treated erlichia in the process.

I still do have flares. I pushed myself at an amusement park walking around for 11 freaking hours trying to just be &quot;normal&quot; When I flare like this, if I do not go back on abx, I will stay sick.

You can get better.

I still have sleep apnea and mild heart problems and sometimes still get orthostatic hypotension when walking. But i CAN relapse if I push it if I don't catch it quick enough.

Yup! I would say that I am a success story. I pop in from time to time and check up with the forum. Last fall I was diagnosed with lymes and three co-infections. Got the proper meds and will be on them until October. Found out that I was with lymes and probably the coinfections for eight years. Went through hell to get here. Diagnosed as bi-polar eight years ago. Go figure. My pschycological states have resolved, no longer manic(rare). Entering back into society, never really left but things are different now. See the person I knew and loved pre lymes everyday and feel blessed. Just picking up were I left off. Just got a job with the electic company with a great career potential. Sending me to school and lots of good stuff like that. I worked very hard to get better. I am fortunate. My LLMD is very pleased with my results. Began with a small job at the end of last year. That was all I could handle. Kept working through it all. Forced myself to start working out, running etc.. Beleived that this was how I am going to get better. Never gave up. Lost alot of weight gain my strength back. Come to find out that working out(excercise) and running heats the muscles and kills the spirochetes. They hate the heat. That is why they like to live in the joints, much cooler there. Inspiered me to work harder. Still know I have lymes though. At least once a day I say that this or that (vision etc.) is due to the lymes or coinfections. I say soldier on. I read alot of positve books to help my head. Everything helps. Diet. Water. Supplements. Keep on keepin on. Bless you. Beleive me I never thought I would be where I am now a year ago. Never in a long while!

The one thing that you need to remember is that Chronic Lymes takes a long time to get better. So that why there is a lot of negativity. Our mind is going through a lot of different things so it is hard to focus on the positive when there is so little of it. I know it is a real downer but thank goodness we have others who are going through the same thing! So be patient and I am sure some of us will post positive things when they do happen. Best of luck
God Bless
slrow

I was diagnosed with lyme in february of 07 and they figured I have had it for around ten years. I have been really sick for almost two years to where I had to take a leave from work because of the terrible pain I was having and all the other symptoms. I am now slowly getting my life back in order with treatment and determination.. at one point I thought things would never get better and I would have to live with this forever. I am starting to realize how sick I was now while I am getting better and better each day. although I have a long way to go the constant slow progress gives me hope that one day I will be free of this awful disease. I hope this gives all of you some hope and the determination to keep fighting and listening to your doctor and your body.. this is a real disease and it can be beat no matter what anyone tells you. I am seeing results!!!! good luck to all of you.. I am here for any of you who need a friend and support. I have found a few good friends on here that helped me when I was at my lowest and I am here for any of you too whenever you are in need of support...

So, I have been in denial for almost a year now. I was not able to admit I was really sick, that I was in a life-death border Not me, I thought nothing could happen to someone like me

Hi there, my name is Katrina, and here is my story.

I am (was) a super healthy athlete, fitness and yoga instructor, tennis player, model, medical student, and a small business owner. I had my own goals and ambitions and that healthy drive that motivated me through each and every day. I enjoyed every moment of life and could not imagine that hell exists If you read this, you know what I mean

October 29, 2009my life turned upside down I went to sleep planning my next dayFrench lesson, school, work, yoga I woke up in a horrible pain--my limbs were numb, my face was paralyzed, my head was in agony I cant describe all the horror I felt. I ended up in NYU ER, New York City. Why the hell they did not tested me for Lyme, why they even did not mention Lyme was a possibility???? They gave me some steroids and sent me home! STEROIDS and LYME --- worst enemies!!! Never ever take steroids if you have Lyme disease, they just suppress your immune system and Lyme will multiply in seconds! Thank God I listened to my intuition and did not take them! I asked the Doc in NYU hospital if I should do acupuncture to help me with Bells Pallsy. ACUPUNCTURE oh NO, dont do that! Dont let them touch your face! What an ignorant doctor, she would left me half paralyzed After ER I went straight to Chinese medicine practitioner in PCOM, NYc. Those people are amazing; I cant express how grateful I am for their care!

This is my note I wrote after recovering from Bells Pallsy a couple of weeks later.

I just had another amazing session with Dr Peter Veniez and while being under hypnoses I decided to share my sad story with a happy end...

I will never forget October 29, 2009, the morning I ended up in ER in a total shock and denial. I was treated so inhuman by hospital employees, all they cared about my insurance card. Finally, when all the paperwork was done the doctor came to see me, I was diagnosed with &quot;Bells Pallsy&quot;, which in western medicine is an idiopathic condition, meaning there is no known cause and NO cure.

The whole day I was traveling from one hospital to another for nothing. Knowing that it was an emergency they told me to bring 2 referrals and next available appointment would be in 2 weeks from that day.

I decided to trust myself to alternative medicine and self-healing.

I was really scared and was feeling so alone. I was not able to tell my parents because they are oversees and would be scared to death, but unable to help. The other close to me people did not seem care...

So, I still don't know how out of 5,000 friends on Facebook I connected with Dr Peter Veniez. We talked a couple of times before my trauma and at that time I would never imagine he would be that light in the tunnel for me.

The days became totally different ... I lost control over my life... I thought : &quot;Why me?&quot; We always take everything for granted and think nothing would happen to us until it really happens...

On day 3 I start having major panic attacks (The fear and sorrow inside me made me insane, the only hope I had for people close to me, but they were not there for me. I hope no one will go through that hell).

I was home by myself in a complete darkness with a couple candles on, burning some incense and lavender to tranquilize my mind. Tears would constantly brake through and I would go from total numbness to a state of panic...

I was blesses to meet a total stranger online who helped me through... Dr Peter Veniez put me under hypnoses to withdraw me from shock and fear and encouraged me to come to Montreal to get treatments from Chinese healer.

The only person who did not ask questions but just packed and went with me was my friend Olga (I am really grateful to her).

So, here I am... Totally sick, having tidal fevers, emotional outbreaks, being constantly cold, and having numbness in my limbs driving myself to Montreal. I did not take road trip forever, I thought this would be a nice therapy, would distract my mind from my trauma... BUT I was WRONG, I was so broken down that I was praying just to make it there ... I am grateful to my friend Brigitta to check on me regularly... She was the only person who called me to make sure I arrived.

Montreal, mon pargnant...

Dr Peter picked me up from my hotel with his beautiful wife Brigitte and took me to Cecilene, the true healer. She would spend hours with me every day to help me to recover. After a couple of treatments she told me : &quot; I will not charge you anymore, I just want to help you&quot;. Moreover she offered to stay as long as I need to in her sisters hotel for almost nothing. After her treatments Dr. Peter took me to his clinic for more hypnoses session to help me recuperate and get better (I just want to make it clear Dr. Peter Veniez had never asked me to pay him and helping me from the bottom of his heart) . I HAVE NEVER MET SUCH WONDERFUL PEOPLE BEFORE. I love them so much!

I made it back to NYc in a week recovering and full of hope. THANK YOU!

Why I decided to share it? Being 99% recovered I slowly returned to my normal life, start meeting with friends and going out. But I am not the same anymore -- I have always been nice and caring, but now I do care so much more about people around me, because you never know what's tomorrow.

I would like to thank Dr. Peter Veniez, his wife Brigitte, Cicelene, my beautiful friends Olga and Brigitta for everything! I appreciate it so much! I love you guys!

6 weeks later I became even sicker than before. I had no idea what was going on with me, I was so scared, I lost total control over my life. I was taken by ambulance to Morristown hospital ER in New Jersey Physical pain was as bad as emotional. Lyme has no mercy, it destroys us completely.

After a day of all the possible tests I was announced perfectly healthy and was sent home. Good, Ive got a referral to a neurologist to follow up, who diagnosed me with Lyme right away. I am really grateful to Matthew Frank Conigliari, M.D., who agreed to see me in his lunch time without an appointment.

Its been only 6 weeks since Ive been infected. But it was already too late to be cured

As soon as I got home, I googled Lyme and got horrified, I realized I had a long road ahead of me I started antibiotics right away, but every day I was becoming sicker and sicker I went to every doc possible, I knocked every door, I begged for help without any response I called so many LLMDs, but they refused to take a new patient since they had been harassed by legal agencies.

They prescribed Mepron for Babesia + 3 more antibiotics. I was already on Doxy and feeling pretty bad, so I knew conventional route was not for me. Artemesia herb is great, it eliminated Babesia in 2 month!

A friend sent this to me..As far as I can see, grief will never truly end.It may become softer overtime, more gentleand some days will feel sharp.But grief will last as long as Love does - ForeverIt's simply the way the absence of your loved onemanifests in your heart. A deep longing accompaniedby the deepest Love some days. The heavy fog mayreturn and the next day, it may recede.Once again, it's...

Today is my 25th birthday, to my somewhat lack of surprise I can see already no one really seems to care. I've always been the kinda person to make sure that everyone I Care about feels appreciated and knew somebody had their back. I can count 4 times this year when I Went out of my way to make sure a "friend" felt good on their birthday, especially if they got left hanging. Its early in the...

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